NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Just when things looked like they could not
get any worse for the New Jersey Nets, they crossed the river.

Shooting just 26 percent, New Jersey could never grab control
and dropped an 82-74 verdict to the New York Knicks. The Nets
made just 25-of-86 shots and the Knicks did just enough to post
their fifth straight home victory.

Patrick Ewing had 20 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks for
New York, which has won seven of eight games since losing
swingman Latrell Sprewell to a fractured heel. Point guard
Charlie Ward added 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds for
the Knicks.

"I think our defense will take things over until our offense
gets going," Ewing said. "It was a team effort. We didn't want
them to make baskets. Our offense hasn't caught up to our
defense."

"That is a good win for us," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said.
"Especially with the quality of opposition we played tonight."

Sam Cassell, still battling a nagging right ankle injury, scored
18 points for New Jersey. The Nets (2-8) have lost six of their
last seven games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division.

"We shot a bad percentage but we played pretty good defense and
created a lot of turnovers," Nets coach John Calipari said.
"We've got to make the open shots. We have to stay positive. We
have to shoot better. We can't win like that."

The game marked the first regular season meeting between labor
rivals Ewing and Nets center Jayson Williams. The outspoken
Williams was one of union president Ewing's harshest critics as
the lockout wore on.

Ewing clearly got the better of a battered Williams, who was
held to one point and seven rebounds in 28 minutes. Williams,
who signed a six-year, $86 million contract just prior to the
season, is playing with a broken nose, sore right foot, swollen
right thumb and strained left shoulder.

"We wanted to get off to a better start," Williams lamented. "We
didn't want to be in last place. A part of it is games we lost
to injury. We are better than 2-8. Pat handed it to me. I'm
glad we play them three more times."

New Jersey made 9-of-21 shots to open the contest and led 20-19
after the first quarter. But in the second quarter things got
ugly as the Nets made just 3-of-24 shots and trailed 37-34 at
the half.

Despite the horrendous shooting, New Jersey was within 64-63
with 6:36 left. Ewing hit a fadeaway but Van Horn countered with
a hook shot in the lane with 5:25 to go.

Ward buried a 3-pointer 20 seconds later and Kendall Gill made a
layup. Ward hit a free throw with 3:49 remaining for a 70-67
lead before Allan Houston converted a long 3-pointer 73 seconds
later for a six-point bulge.

New York won despite committing 23 turnovers and making just
15-of-24 free throws. It has won 11 of the last 17 meetings
between the Hudson River rivals.